A Dhaka court has ordered the exhumation of 114 bodies buried as unidentified victims killed during the July movement.
On Monday (August 4), Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman issued the order following a petition by the police. Additional Public Prosecutor Mohammad Shamsuddoha Suman confirmed the matter.
Sumon said, "Sub-Inspector (SI) of Mohammadpur Police Station, Md. Mahidul Islam filed a written petition. The petition mentioned that many men and women lost their lives during the anti-discrimination student movement due to clashes and violence in various areas. Among them, 114 were buried as unidentified individuals at the Rayerbazar graveyard."
The graveyard holds a mass grave of 114 people whose identities remain unconfirmed
The petition further stated that to identify the victims, it is necessary to exhume the bodies by following legal procedures. The Autopsy reports of these bodies have already been prepared. Now, DNA samples are required to confirm their identities. Once the DNA profiling is done and identities are confirmed, the petition requested that the bodies be handed over to the respective families, following legal procedures
The court granted permission for exhumation after hearing the petition and the execution of other related procedures.
For context, many protesters went missing and were killed nationwide in clashes with the police during last year's July uprising. During the peak of the movement, although many dead bodies were recovered in the capital amid a harsh crackdown by security forces, the identities of many could not be confirmed.
Most of them were buried as unidentified persons.
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